And now for something completely different, "Goodbye"!
B Sellers
economic recovery of Japan by Yoshihiro Tatsumi and is an adult manga
depicting the lowest in society. Foreword by Frederik L. Schodt and
published by Drawn and Quarterly Publications. 2008
"Goodbye" the title piece is a manga drawing on memories of the
immediate post WW II period as are many of the other manga included in
this book. It begins with prostitution and ends with
incest.
This is before shojo, shouen-ai, and bishojo, et al changed the face
of Japanese manga production and constrained the mangaka
within the limits of "decency". I enjoyed the realism of the works.
This is not "Gen of Hiroshima" nor "Grave of the Fireflies" but it
conveys the struggle of the individuals to find meaning in their
lives.
Drawn and Quarterly wants $19.95 in the US or Canada
for the book and it is worth it.
later
bliss
The Relic
I read a volume of Tatsumi's work years ago, under the name
"Goodbye and Other Stories", published by NBM I recall. The
stories (including this one) were pretty harrowing. One involved
a lame voyeur, while another involved a post-war abortionist.
Tatsumi obviously has many things to say about the human
condition, and often they are not pleasant, but IMO are
a must-read.